Virtual Breakfast

This free weekly series for farmers and agribusinesses focuses on a wide array of relevant field crop pest and crop management topics during the growing season.

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In the Weeds Podcasts

In agriculture, things change fast and growers need on time and on target weather, crop and pest information. To meet this need, the Michigan State University Extension Field Crops team will provide farmers and agribusiness with relevant podcasts. "In the weeds" will be discussing critical issues facing our farming industry every other week. You can participate by phone, mobile device or by playing the embedded audio below.

"In the weeds" is downloadable on:

  • Innovative forage systems

    Published on December 21, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 2: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sits down with Erins Burns and Kim Cassida, Weed Scientist and Forage Specialist at MSU, to discuss how changing up your forage rotation can help with management issues like manure application oppertunities.

  • Don't treat manure like $h*t

    Published on December 10, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 6 Episode 1: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sits down with Glen Arnold, Manure Nutrient Management Systems Field Specialist with OSU, to discuss how to better utilize manure through improved application techniques.

  • Saving soil: a farmer's perspective on cover crops

    Published on November 26, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 5: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak sits down with Dan Ritter, Farmer in the thumb of Michigan, to discuss how cover crops work to save him money

  • Flushing phosphorus down the drain: tile lines and disoloved phosphorus

    Published on November 12, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 4: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak sits down with Merrin McCrae, Researcher at the Univeristy of Waterloo, to discuss phosphorus transport and how that interacts with tile lines, cover crops and more!

  • Consumer opinion matters: markets and the pandemic

    Published on October 29, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 3: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak sits down with Trey Malone, MSU Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, to discuss how consumer opinions impact Michigan markets.

  • Tracking Turds: Finding the Source of Contamination in Watersheds

    Published on October 16, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 2: MSU Extension educators Erica Rogers and Sarah Fronczak sits down with Aaron Snell, owner of Streamside Ecological Services Inc., to discuss Ecoli tracking in watersheds to resolve community feces contamination issues.

  • Myth-busting Phosphorus in Your Fields

    Published on September 30, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 1: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak sit down with Chad Penn, Research Soil Scientist with USDA-ARS, to discuss how phosphorus behaves in the field and how farming practices can influence its fate.

  • Working Women, the Backbone of Family Farms

    Published on June 3, 2020
    This is a testimonial to the trials and tribulations as described by a working women in agriculture. Listen as she explains her supporting role, added stress of having an off-farm job, and how she maintains a healthy work life balance.

  • Can you help me with my cover crop?

    Published on May 26, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 4 Episode 5: MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, Monica Jean, sits down with Dean Baas, MSU Extension Sustainable Agriculture Educator, to discuss 101 cover crop planning and how to get help with your cover crop.

  • What does this cover crop do for my farm?

    Published on May 6, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 4 Episode 4: Monica Jean, MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, sit down with Dustin Mulock, Farmer from Ontario, CA, to discuss biofences, companion cropping and nutrient management with cover crops.